Local teen back home after near-fatal wreck in Fla.

Joel Benson, left, owner of the Hendersonville Chick-fil-A, welcomes Madison Cawthown back to Hendersonville on Wednesday. Cawthown, who worked for several years at Chick-fil-A, was in a car crash in Daytona Beach, Fla., in April and recently released from the hospital.

Published: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 5:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 5:40 p.m.

On April 3, Hendersonville resident Madison Cawthorn and his close friend Brad Ledford were heading home from a spring break vacation in Clearwater, Fla. when Ledford fell asleep at the wheel of his SUV. When he awoke, they were headed off of the road and ran into a mile marker post and a concrete road barrier.

Ledford said the next thing he remembers after pulling his face out of the airbag was seeing the back of the car engulfed in flames. Cawthorn was slumped forward in the passenger seat, his eyes rolling back into his head. The 17-year-old broke through the passenger side window, got out and pulled his friend out.

Two bystanders helped Ledford pull Cawthorn away from the burning SUV, which he said had turned from tan to black. The four waited for help to arrive.

Cawthorn, 19, was taken by helicopter to Halifax Hospital in Dayton Beach, Fla. Ledford said emergency responders tried to send him to a separate hospital, but he asked to go wherever Cawthorn went. He stayed with Cawthorn for the next two weeks in the hospital.

Cawthorn's spine was crushed. He broke his T12 vertebra, lost a kidney, broke his pelvis in two places, severely burned his left ankle, crushed his right, and his insides were pushed through his diaphragm into his lungs collapsing both of them.

“It is a miracle,” his mother said. “They couldn't even believe he was alive.”

Cawthorn's friends and family made numerous trips to visit him in the hospital in Daytona, Fla. and continued to visit once he was moved to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga., which specializes in spinal injuries.

On Wednesday, Cawthorn returned to Hendersonville for the first time since the accident and asked his parents if they could stop by Chick-fil-A, where he has worked since he was 14.

Owner Joel Benson said he had a hard time keeping it together as they waited. As Cawthorn rolled through the doors, every person in the restaurant stood, cheering him on. Employees came out from behind the counter to hug the teen. Benson leaned over, burying his face into Cawthorn's shoulder. As he pulled back, tears rolled down his face.

“Madison is probably the epitome of a Chick-fil-A employee,” Benson said. “He's always treated people with honor, dignity and respect, and always went above and beyond. His customer service was remarkable. We use him when we talk about the highest level on our employee evaluations.”

Cawthorn's aunt, Peggy Smith, said it's hard to describe the teen since he's such an awesome kid who is always there for those around him.

After making his way through the crowd of people who came to welcome him home, Cawthorn sat down with a spicy deluxe chicken sandwich, surrounded by his teammates from the Asheville Saints Football team and their coach.

His family is currently having their Flat Rock home outfitted to accommodate his wheelchair, moving Cawthorn's bedroom and a living area downstairs with the help of local volunteers.

In the meantime, a home has been offered to the family on South Mills Gap Road while theirs is under construction. Cawthorn's mother said their church, Biltmore Baptist, has been a huge help through everything, as well as churches in Florida that were contacted by Biltmore Baptist.

She hasn't been home since the accident, instead staying with her son.

“It's been an ordeal,” Priscilla Cawthorn said. “He starts rehab first thing in the morning at Care Partners over in Asheville and we're just going to try to get settled.”

Cawthorn was nominated by a congressman to attend the U.S. Naval Academy this fall and received a full Marine ROTC scholarship to N.C. State University, but has decided to take the year off to focus on rehabilitation. He said he will more than likely pursue a political science degree next fall. Priscilla Cawthorn said her son wants to run for Congress one day.

“I've been in the rehab every day for the past four months, and I really only remember the past two months. I don't really remember everything from my ICU days, but just going through rehab and just realizing that life isn't over,” Cawthorn said. “This isn't something that is going to end your life, and I am confident that I am going to walk again, and so I am making great strides toward that. It has just been really good going through that process and having great friends to support me and great family especially.”

For updates on Cawthorn and his story, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/prayformadisoncawthorn.

<p>On April 3, Hendersonville resident Madison Cawthorn and his close friend Brad Ledford were heading home from a spring break vacation in Clearwater, Fla. when Ledford fell asleep at the wheel of his SUV. When he awoke, they were headed off of the road and ran into a mile marker post and a concrete road barrier. </p><p>Ledford said the next thing he remembers after pulling his face out of the airbag was seeing the back of the car engulfed in flames. Cawthorn was slumped forward in the passenger seat, his eyes rolling back into his head. The 17-year-old broke through the passenger side window, got out and pulled his friend out. </p><p>Two bystanders helped Ledford pull Cawthorn away from the burning SUV, which he said had turned from tan to black. The four waited for help to arrive. </p><p>Cawthorn, 19, was taken by helicopter to Halifax Hospital in Dayton Beach, Fla. Ledford said emergency responders tried to send him to a separate hospital, but he asked to go wherever Cawthorn went. He stayed with Cawthorn for the next two weeks in the hospital. </p><p>Cawthorn's spine was crushed. He broke his T12 vertebra, lost a kidney, broke his pelvis in two places, severely burned his left ankle, crushed his right, and his insides were pushed through his diaphragm into his lungs collapsing both of them.</p><p>“It is a miracle,” his mother said. “They couldn't even believe he was alive.”</p><p>Cawthorn's friends and family made numerous trips to visit him in the hospital in Daytona, Fla. and continued to visit once he was moved to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Ga., which specializes in spinal injuries. </p><p>On Wednesday, Cawthorn returned to Hendersonville for the first time since the accident and asked his parents if they could stop by Chick-fil-A, where he has worked since he was 14. </p><p>Owner Joel Benson said he had a hard time keeping it together as they waited. As Cawthorn rolled through the doors, every person in the restaurant stood, cheering him on. Employees came out from behind the counter to hug the teen. Benson leaned over, burying his face into Cawthorn's shoulder. As he pulled back, tears rolled down his face. </p><p>“Madison is probably the epitome of a Chick-fil-A employee,” Benson said. “He's always treated people with honor, dignity and respect, and always went above and beyond. His customer service was remarkable. We use him when we talk about the highest level on our employee evaluations.”</p><p>Cawthorn's aunt, Peggy Smith, said it's hard to describe the teen since he's such an awesome kid who is always there for those around him. </p><p>After making his way through the crowd of people who came to welcome him home, Cawthorn sat down with a spicy deluxe chicken sandwich, surrounded by his teammates from the Asheville Saints Football team and their coach. </p><p>His family is currently having their Flat Rock home outfitted to accommodate his wheelchair, moving Cawthorn's bedroom and a living area downstairs with the help of local volunteers. </p><p>In the meantime, a home has been offered to the family on South Mills Gap Road while theirs is under construction. Cawthorn's mother said their church, Biltmore Baptist, has been a huge help through everything, as well as churches in Florida that were contacted by Biltmore Baptist. </p><p>She hasn't been home since the accident, instead staying with her son. </p><p>“It's been an ordeal,” Priscilla Cawthorn said. “He starts rehab first thing in the morning at Care Partners over in Asheville and we're just going to try to get settled.”</p><p>Cawthorn was nominated by a congressman to attend the U.S. Naval Academy this fall and received a full Marine ROTC scholarship to N.C. State University, but has decided to take the year off to focus on rehabilitation. He said he will more than likely pursue a political science degree next fall. Priscilla Cawthorn said her son wants to run for Congress one day.</p><p>“I've been in the rehab every day for the past four months, and I really only remember the past two months. I don't really remember everything from my ICU days, but just going through rehab and just realizing that life isn't over,” Cawthorn said. “This isn't something that is going to end your life, and I am confident that I am going to walk again, and so I am making great strides toward that. It has just been really good going through that process and having great friends to support me and great family especially.”</p><p>For updates on Cawthorn and his story, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/prayformadisoncawthorn.</p><p>___</p><p>Reach Bindewald at renee.bindewald@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7890.</p>